WIDNES stand-off Anthony Thackeray has been sensationally axed by the club just five games into the Co-operative Championship season.

The news will come as a shock to many Vikings fans following Thackeray’s stand-out performances in 2010 which earned him the title of Co-operative Championship Player of the Year.

Widnes have also terminated the contracts of hooker Kirk Netherton, centre James Ford and loose-forward Chris Gerrard.

The move comes on the back of several lacklustre performances by Widnes in recent weeks which has seen them lose three of their last four games.

Indeed, Denis Betts’ men failed to register in the second half of any of those losses.

Betts explained: “It’s something that’s been forced on us really. Our phases of moving forward to Super League next season have been moved forward because of performances on the field.

“It would be foolish to say anything different.

“We got beat by Hunslet at home and Batley away and had two defeats at Leigh.

“What that has done has refocused what we’re going to do with this side and where we need to make changes.”

The Vikings were awarded a Super League licence for 2012 just three weeks ago and many pundits believe it has placed increased pressure on the current squad to perform.

“There’s a lot of pressure around the place and some people respond to pressure and some people don’t,” said Betts. “Unfortunately the pressure has been great on Thacks because of the way he played last year and the expectation that placed on him this year.

“We sat down and discussed the fact that it gives him the opportunity to understand that he’s not going to be involved with us next year.

“As a group we’re sending out a message that this is the way we’re going.

“The pressure’s on and we need to see who can handle the pressure.

“At the moment we’ve got players that can’t.”

Meanwhile, Wigan half-back Joe Mellor has joined the Vikings on a dual-registration deal.

He joins Wigan teammates Logan Tomkins and Dom Crosby in the Widnes squad and may be in line to feature in Thursday’s match against Halifax.